I plan on writing more about my ride soon. Hours after arriving my beloved Maple dog had a freak stomach issue and died suddenly. Needless to say I am beside myself. Not the high note I expected to go out with. Thanks for following and rooting for me over these last few weeks.
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Well 120 miles today and all done. I need some food and then I’ll post some more. I will do a rundown on the highlights of the whole trip in the next couple days.
Well this is the final 120 miles. Looks like the weather is going to be maybe the best day ever high of 80 low humidity. This is probably one of the most picturesque stretches of the whole ride to. It goes through the colonial Parkway historic Williamsburg and then on down to the beach.
Hot day on the road. Temps hit 100 / 110, humidity was down a bit though. Traffic was getting pretty hectic and fast as I got closer to Richmond. Tomorrow will be the last leg to the boardwalk.
It was a perfect morning and temperature today. Humidity is really cranking up now. As I get closer to Richmond traffic has been increasing steadily.
I did save this poor turtles life. He was almost running to cross the street. I was also greeted by two friendly dogs this time. I am lined up to finish on Saturday afternoon. Pretty hot with thunderstorms in the area. Tomorrow I should roll into Richmond then on to VA Beach Saturday. Crazy washed out roads throughout KY and VA
We are making our way across KY to get away from the heat. Right now looks like I will do a big riding friday and Saturday into VA Beach.
Funny when planning these adventures you think you planned for everything. Then something like this heat hits. there is some disappointment when I have to alter plans. I enjoy the discomfort and challenge of sleeping in the wilderness or sleeping on the floor of a post office and eating a cold can of spaghettios for breakfast. I am looking forward to getting back on the bike for those last few hundred miles. Plan for the rest of the trip.
My goal in all of this is to raise money for JCS. The crazy ride just adds to the excitement of the whole thing. When the forecast and temps reach a level that can lead to serious health and safety issues it then is time to do a workaround. tracy has caught up with me and we are going to leap past this massive heat wave to cooler temps. my plan is to ride the last few hundred miles into VA Beach and then rest and relax. It has been an incredible run (not over yet) and the peole I have met and the experiences are awesome. My goal is to always arrive in reasonable health and ready to rejoin my family and the regular routine. I’ll be posting more and getting ready for the last few legs of this journey. I was fortunate to bump into one of the volunteer firemen here in Fordsville. He ippened up the firehouse for me and said make yourself at home.
the temps and humidity are skyrocketing here and it is very dangerous to be exerting to the level I need to. When I rolled in to town yesterday sweat was not dripping but pouring off of me like a faucet. I recognize what condition I was in with chills and shakes etc. because I’ve been there before in the Mojave. The forecast and heat alerts are in place for the next four days in KY. Funny thing I did not save any turtles or had any dog pursuits. I guess they are smart enough to stay out of the heat! I am doing some planning to ride a few stretches more but it may be the final days in Virginia. More to come. I am hunkered down at a gas station because of the intense heat in KY.
the whole state is on a heat advisory for the next 3-4 days. the heat index right now where I’m at is around 108F. I was getting a bit wonky on the way in to this little town is wand decided to figure out the heat and rest it out for a bit. After getting cold inside the post office last night I moved to the porch and leaned against a mailbox and finished sleeping.
the heat is climbing quickly. It is supposed to be near 100 today. I am already drenched in sweat. feeling pretty good though. Towns are roughly 15 to 29 miles apart, so it has been easier to hydrate. I am in the Dixon KY post office for the night in my bivvy. Seems like a nice cool place to sleep. I smell so bad it is offensive.
I am really pushing for BA Beach late Saturday. My calorie depletion was getting to me earlier and I was struggling to produce power in my legs. For those out there that might think I am making this look easy…………we’ll let me say I am giving it all I have , my reserves are spent every day and this is very difficult. Hard days are ahead also so I’m trying to get a bit ahead of the mileage. I think I saved 2 turtles today and surprise no dog pursuits. That comes in eastern KY. Rolled in to Farmington last night. My sons rode the last 20 miles with me. That was super fun. Richie even got two flats. Finally someone else except me.
it was great to be greeted with cow bells and all this who are rooting for me. Thanks to everyone for turning out. It is certainly a spirit lifter. I spent the rest of the evening heading to Chester to replace my back tire and do some maintenance. I was also up very late trying to get my maps fixed. To no avail. I did however in Carbondale get the manager of McDonald’s to print Que sheets for me incase the gps goes whack again. It looks like the tracker is functioning ok and I think everything has been running good today. and oh happy day tailwinds all the way across Illinois. Clean roads courteous drivers. Just a pleasantly day. I’ve been having a bit of trouble with the blog. Might be connectivity I. The hills.
I was chased by five dogs yesterday saved two turtles just this morning two more dog pursuits two more turtle lives saved tracy will help me keep track for the final amount. Missouri is nothing but up and down and up and down. In my book that is better than climbing a 6% grade for 23 miles. To each his own I guess. When I woke up this morning it was pouring down rain. So I had to suit up in marine gear do I just walk out the door. As I was putting away my reindeer a couple hours later I noticed a bolt and worked its way loose and was missing holding my bag to the seat of the bike. I had three flats today so I had to make my way to a bike shop to get a nut and some supplies for flats. I’m almost back on the road again after I eat. I should make hartville or graf. Then Farmington tomorrow.
I had to spray another dog , but saved a turtle Well we believe was messed up for a couple days so much try to get caught up on some blogs.
So I made it through Oklahoma through that little tip of Kansas and into Joplin Missouri yesterday. I’m trying to remember I wrote through like four hours of rain somewhere and thunderstorms. Still lots of headwinds winds out of the east it’s crazy I don’t get it. Started out early just south of Tulsa I had another section of my map tracks and before they were supposed to so I went ahead and checked all my maps for the rest of my trip and they’re all messed up so will try to get those fixed when I pass thorough farmington. The temperatures been pretty nice not real hot sunshine and I’m just rolling along. I took some fun pictures of Tulsa they really get into the neon stuff.
and of course the blue whale. Which you can walk out on now. mavigating without my tracks is very cumbersome so hopefully I can get them straightened out. I have the first segment out of Joplin to emminence. After riding in all the rain during the morning it had set me back a bit.
we can officially start keeping the dog vs. turtle count. here’s how it goes………… if I save a turtle from impending vehicular doom that is one for the turtles., I’ll even take a pic if I am pursued, by a dog that is one for the dogs, wether I have to gel them or not. while riding on old 66 I was chased by three dogs at once. Luckily I was already moving pretty good but they all three chased me for about a 1/4 mile maybe more. Not long after that one can running out in front of me and I grabbed the gel and gave him a spray, he stopped! after that I thought I would take to the interstate for a bit. Not long after that I was booted off by a trooper. No bikes on the freeway on OK. I even said the freeway is safer than crazy dogs and drivers doing 80 on the backroads!! Day started out nice. But thunderstorms loomed before me and I ended up riding through about 4 hours of downpours. I think it washed every drop of oil off the chain. So I spent some time drying things off and doing a bit of maintenance. I plan on riding very late into the night to make up for the lost time.
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Don ForthBeginning May 29, 2022 I will embark on a 3100 mile solo bicycle ride with no support vehicles following. As with my rides in the past I am raising money and awareness for The Joshua Chamberlain Society Categories |